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The Today Show Features Augie Nieto

If you watched NBC's "Today Show" on the morning of Nov. 13, you saw the inspiring story of Life Fitness co-founder, Augie Nieto. In 2005, Nieto was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a degenerative muscle condition that paralyzes and ultimately takes the lives of its patients three to five years after diagnosis.

Regardless, Augie has taken charge in his fight against ALS for the last eight years. Not three to five, but eight. These triumphs come from Augie’s positive attitude and hard work toward rehabilitation. Instead of waking up each morning focusing on his disabilities, Nieto focuses on the areas of his life he can control, and has inspired many with the results.

Nieto may be confined to a wheelchair, but that hasn’t kept him from conducting business or playing an active role as a husband and father of four. In 2006, he founded Augie’s Quest, a research initiative division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Just seven years old, the foundation has raised nearly $40 million for research in the fight against ALS, which has assisted in the creation of a new pill that could reach production levels of 30 million in the next five years. Nieto also currently serves on the board for a number of fitness companies.

Remarkably, Nieto’s symptoms seem to be receding. With help from his trainer and the folks at Project Walk, Nieto is regaining movement in his hands, doing leg-press workouts, and has started walking again. He’s even back to eating some soft, solid foods like ice cream.

One of Augie’s milestones in overcoming ALS will happen this summer when he walks his daughter Lindsay down the aisle on her wedding day. And with July fast approaching, Nieto’s motivational fuel is going to make it happen. He refuses to have it any other way.